Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago
Prize Pool
$820,800
Entries
570
Level
28
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Stop if you've heard this one before: Craig Casino is performing well in a Heartland Poker Tour event.
Arguably the top player in the relatively short history of the tour, Casino leads the all-time money rankings with over $800,000 in cashes, making up nearly all of his lifetime tournament winnings.
While he hasn't quite guaranteed himself more yet, he's put himself in great position after bagging 464,000 to lead the 16 players who made it through Day 1a of HPT Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event.
Casino got lucky in the early stages when he binked a two-outer set on the river and grabbed a double after shoving on the end and getting paid by top pair. Later on, he'd rocket up the counts with a heater to end the night, picking up aces and kings in the final couple of levels to win sizable pots.
Barry Schmiess was the only other player bagging north of 300,000 as he finished with 386,000. Others finding bags included Daniel Sepiol (246,000), Kevin Andriamahefa (237,000) and recent WPT champion "Chicken Wing" Frank Stepuchin (201,000).
A total of 116 entries turned up for the first of four starting flights in the unlimited reentry tournament, so the prize pool is off to a strong start.
Some of the players who contributed to that number but failed to make it through included Nick Pupillo, Aaron Massey, Alex Ziskin, Jean Gaspard, Matt Shepsky and Kou Vang. Gaspard had a particularly painful Day 1a as he pumped his 30,000 up just shy of 200,000 to surge into the chip lead before fizzling out in a hurry.
The tournament moves on to Day 1b, again scheduled for 2 p.m. local time. Come back to PokerNews for more coverage of HPT Ameristar East Chicago.
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
464,000
31,000
|
31,000 |
|
386,000
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
290,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
287,000
36,000
|
36,000 |
|
271,000
-2,000
|
-2,000 |
|
246,000 | |
|
|
246,000
-83,000
|
-83,000 |
|
237,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
|
201,000
111,500
|
111,500 |
|
||
|
195,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
175,000 | |
|
|
144,000 | |
|
|
123,000 | |
|
|
102,000 | |
|
|
62,000 | |
|
51,000
-59,000
|
-59,000 |
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Barry Schmiess opened for 9,000 and got two callers before Todd Ivens repopped it to 50,000 in the big blind. Everyone folded and he dragged a decent-sized pot without contest.
Schmiess and Craig Casino appear the two likeliest candidates to wind up with the chip lead as each table plays through three hands to end the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
433,000
193,000
|
193,000 |
|
|
396,000 | |
|
|
273,000
-43,000
|
-43,000 |
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Brad Sailor got all in preflop with 
and someone called for slightly less with 
. The 
board left Sailor's sixes second-best, and he sent about 50,000 to a player across the table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
19,000
-65,000
|
-65,000 |
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Dan Hummer raised to 15,000 in the small blind over a couple of limps and both Craig Casino in early position and a player on the button called. Hummer bet another 15,000 on the 
flop and everyone continued to the turn, which checked through. On the 
river, Hummer bet 50,000.
Both opponents folded and someone begged him to show a bluff. Instead, Hummer laughed and showed 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
340,000
105,000
|
105,000 |
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Dan Hummer opened for 15,000 on the button and Craig Casino made it 42,000 out of the big blind. Hummer called and they saw a 
flop. Casino bet 32,000 and Hummer thought briefly before folding.
Casino showed 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
240,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
|
|
235,000
-93,000
|
-93,000 |
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Kou Vang shoved over an open of 9,000 from the cutoff, and he was quickly called after the blinds folded.
Kou Vang: 
Cutoff: 
The flip wouldn't go Vang's way as it rolled out 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000